Me and Kinoshita were playing card games at the far end corner of the room. There were fewer people in this part of the room so those 5 guys had no choice, but to take the places near me.
These guys approached us slowly. Leading the group was Imai Murasaki. His somewhat fearless and arrogant smile kind of pissed me off. I wanted to crush that face but I resisted my urge.
"May we occupy the places near you?"
The one who opened his mouth was the leader of this group.
"Sure, I don't mind."
Upon my approval, he unhesitantly sat down near us. It's as if he doesn't know who I am.
"I see that you are playing some interesting games. Mind if I play with you?"
Imai's suggestion was okay with me because I was getting bored. And also, it seems like I can get some information about the relationship between him and Reika.
"Okay. You can invite your other friends too. The more, the merrier."
"Alright. Hey guys! We are playing some cards game here! Anyone interested?"
Those four guys slowly came near me and sat down to participate in this game. I started to shuffle the cards when I suddenly forgot to tell something.
"By the way, what is your name?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. How rude of me. My name is Imai Murasaki. And you?"
I thought he doesn't know who I am. This makes it even more interesting.
"I'm Hikigaya Reiji. And he is Kinoshita Ken. Nice to meet you all."
Kinoshita was startled at me for using a fake name but when I looked at him, he went with the flow.
The other guys also introduced themselves but I already forgot their names. Because the most important one here is this guy who is more handsome and annoying than the others.
After playing some games for a long time, all of them went to sleep, except for me, Kinoshita and Imai.
We three agreed to go outside and take some fresh air. So we were at some kind of balcony where we could see the moon shine brightly in the sky.
"Hikigaya, I got a question for you if you mind. Don't get me wrong if I hurt you in some ways."
"Sure, go ahead."
"Why does everyone else avoid or don't come near you. Is there something that happened between you and your classmates?"
So it has comes to this. I knew he would ask me this kind of question to me because of my classmates' behaviour around me.
I stayed silent for a second, which caused Imai to be uncomfortable.
"It's okay if you don't want t-"
"I was bullied."
"!?"
The shock could be seen in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but the words wouldn't come out. I continued to tell this fake story that I came up with.
"In the third year of middle school, I was bullied by my so-called best friends. I endured it until the end of my third year. Now I want to avoid the same path that I took, so I made a decision that I won't make any friends because I'm afraid of being bullied again."
Pity started to show in Imai's face. I could somehow know what was he feeling.
"T-Then why did you talk to me and didn't ignore me?"
He snuck out these words which were directed towards me.
"You seemed like a good guy who wouldn't do something so meaningless and brutal called bullying. And it seems like everyone in your class have a good opinion about you. So that's why I have no problem with you."
"...Is that so? I-I'm glad that you think of me like that."
"It was the same for Kinoshita and a few other friends. That's why I have few friends, and most of my classmates ignore me."
Sympathy could be felt by him.
"I think that, for you, it was better. As they say, one true friend is better than 100 fake friends."
"I suppose you're right."
After telling my reasons as to why they avoid me, we went inside and tried to get some sleep. I easily succumbed to my sleepiness.
....
"Hey wake up! It's already morning."
Kinoshita moved my body back and forth with enough strength in his hands to wake me up. I woke up normally like any other days I would, and I went to brush my teeth in the washroom. There was a queue of male students waiting outside but I just ignored it and went in.
Nobody stopped me so I proceeded without any worry for the others who were lining up in the morning. Well, I didn't feel any regret so I brushed my teeth and went outside.
I saw Aki and joked about with her when later, Kinoshita joined us.
After everyone has finished doing the same as me, we were informed about being assembled in the hall again. When we arrived there, there were only those in our class that were present.
Mr Komori Todoh, the PE teacher was standing and awaiting us to be in line right in front of him. The students, like some trained dogs, stood in front of him. I also did because I don't want any trouble with him.
"Everyone! Listen to me very carefully! Your class are getting the opportunity to go hiking near the mountains. So all of you should prepare your bags as we are leaving in 15 minutes. You are all dismissed."
He was more like a drill sergeant than a teacher to me, no maybe to all of us. Everyone hurriedly went to their respective rooms to pack up their stuff.
No one wants to get scolded by that PE teacher. That's why all of the freshmen were quite in panic when preparing our bags.
After about 10 minutes, we, yet again, went to the hall. We were lined up pretty orderly. After seeing us like this, Mr Komori showed us a smile on his face.
'This arrogant piece of shit teacher. He is more irritating than Mr Kimura.'
As that teacher previously said, we were going near regions of the mountains for some hiking session. We waited for a bus to take us to the designated place.
This early in the morning and we are going for some hiking? This PE teacher is really out of his mind. He should take the student's opinion into consideration but no, he ignored us.
'I really want to kill him.'
Pondering on that thought, we've arrived at, what seemed to be the base of the mountain.
Don't tell me that we have to go over this mountain!! If we are, then I might start thinking of ways to murder that teacher.
"Alright, kids. Listen to me with your ears open widely, cause you won't get to hear it a second time. Straight up ahead at about 4 kilometres, you will find a wooden bridge over a river. It is also near a waterfall. I will meet you guys there. The 3 people who arrive there last will be given a punishment. Any questions?"
Nobody objected him. Of course, what is to be expected.
"Good. See you, kids, there. The 3 first person will get a reward from me. Try not to be last."
With that said, he left us stranded. All of us looked into each other's eyes. And a strange fighting spirit could be felt from the teenagers. There was only one thought that was on everyone's mind.
'Don't be last.'
And the consequences? Every single of them were walking very quickly into the direction that Mr Komori pointed at.
Us three, meaning me, Kinoshita and Aki, were silent. Those two looked at me. I said,
"Do you guys have the same thought that I do?"
They silently nodded upon my question.
"Then let's go."
That was the signal which made Kinoshita, Aki and even made me start moving my legs. Thus, the hiking session started with a hectic start.